Area 'tea parties' protest against taxes

April 15, 2009

Joe Alley (left) of Sheridan and his friend Todd Wolf of Bristol were among the people gathered at the Naperville Municipal Center today for the annual Taxpayer's Tea Party to protest "excessive government spending, borrowing and taxing." (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune) | MORE LOCAL PHOTOS | MORE NATIONWIDE PHOTOS

Protestors in downtown Chicago, Naperville, Joliet and a dozen cities throughout Illinois today joined a nationwide series of rallies modeled after the original Boston Tea Party.

They chose the income tax filing deadline to express their displeasure with government spending since President Barack Obama took office.

The protests were held everywhere from Kentucky, which just passed tax increases on cigarettes and alcohol, to South Carolina, where the governor has repeatedly criticized the $787 billion economic stimulus package Congress passed earlier this year. Large rallies were expected later in California and New York.

In Chicago, the crowd cheered, waved American flags and chanted "USA! USA! USA!" as speakers talked about high taxes and government bailouts.

Laura Kotelman, 37, a Chicago business developer, said Cook County's high sales taxes brought her out for the protest. Shoppers in Chicago pay a cumulative 10.25 percent levy -- the highest of any major U.S. city.

"It's a huge burden on regular people," said Kotelman, who says she will sometimes shop in the suburbs and Wisconsin to avoid the levy. "People are out of work and the everyday things they need to buy are being taxed."

Ronald Boetto said he drove 75 miles from Marseilles in LaSalle County to participate in the Chicago rally.

"What made this country great is capitalism and we're moving away from that direction," he said.

Angel Garcia, 32, an investigator from Chicago, held a sign that said "No more bailouts! No new taxes!"

"I'm still young enough that these policies will affect us for generations to come," Garcia said. "I hope politicians will listen and see that we're serious."

In Joliet Lipton tea bags hung from signs with slogans ranging from "Don't Tread on Me!" to "I'm a left wing American" as more than 300 people gathered outside the Will County courthouse this afternoon.